A suspect arrested in connection with injuring a California Highway Patrol officer during a hit-and-run on Interstate 80 in Sacramento has been identified Friday as a 28-year-old man, officials said.

The suspect accused in the crash has been identified as Austin Scott, according to jail records.

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The CHP officer, identified as Michael Ericson, a 17-year veteran of the department, remains in critical, but stable conditions at the UC Davis Medical Center after suffering major injuries in the crash, officials said.

No additional details about the extent of Ericson's injuries has been released.

Ericson was stopped behind a vehicle just before 1:20 p.m. in the center divide on westbound I-80, although it is not known why Ericson had stopped.

Scott then hit Ericson and drove off westbound on I-80, ditching his pickup truck after eight miles, CHP spokesperson Chad Hertzell said. Scott then stole another pickup that was left unattended with the keys inside at a construction site.

CHP spokesman David Harvey said Solano-area officers laid spike strips that stopped the suspect on I-80 near North Texas Street in Fairfield about 20 minutes after the 50-mile chase began. Scott was caught and taken away from the scene in a stretcher, but no other information was released.

Ericson, who is married and has children, was airlifted to UC Davis Medical Center. He was out of surgery about 7:15 p.m. Thursday, and doctors were waiting to for some swelling to go down.

The initial investigation showed the hit-and-run crash was an "intentional act," officials said. Scott appeared to have backed up into Ericson at least once before leaving the scene. It is unknown how many times he was hit.

All lanes of westbound I-80 were closed for several hours, but the interstate was fully reopened about 6:20 p.m. At one point, traffic on the highway was backed up to Roseville as CHP investigated the scene.

The CHP Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team continues to look into the crash.

THE AFTERMATH:

A Roseville man who was going eastbound on I-80 came upon the crash moments before the medical helicopter landed in the middle of the road.

Paul Feitser said the scene was unbelievable.

"It's something you would see in a movie," he said. "I just couldn't believe it was right there in front of my eyes."

Cellphone video and photos Feitser shared with KCRA show a helicopter with its propellers rotating as paramedics huddle around what looks like a stretcher. The Ericson's motorcycle was lying on the road on its side.

Video also shows CHP officers as they worked to handle the chaos -- several were gathered around the injured officer, others investigated the scene and interviewed witnesses and some worked to direct traffic.

Feitser captured a photo of an emotional moment: two CHP officers embracing after one of their own was injured.

"It was heartfelt. It's one of their comrades and that picture kind of describes it," he said. "It was hard to see, but it was touching -- you could see how it affected them."

Courtesy of Paul Feitser

Feitser said he doesn't understand how someone could harm another person on purpose.

"It's hard to believe someone could have done this intentionally. You don't think people are capable of that," he said. "I never experienced anything like that, so it was just surreal"

COMMUNITY RESPONSE:

Several drivers are credited for rushing to the officer's aid, but none more than Sharon McIntyre.

The Sacramento City Fire Department paramedic was driving to a training class when cars started stopping in front of her.

“Brake lights started going and vehicles were stopping and a part that struck me as odd is people were turning in multiple directions and bailing out of their cars to run to the center where the incident actually occurred," McIntyre said.

That's where she saw the CHP officer on the ground and other people working to help him. The 12-year veteran grabbed the officer's radio and broadcast that he was down after getting to the scene, CHP said.

McIntyre then went to work, assessing the officer's injuries and organizing the community members' life-saving efforts.

"In our profession, it's really not a thought process that we acknowledge," McIntyre said. "It's something that's an automatic reaction that we are trained to do."

CHP said the community members were willing to exit their vehicles and "tend to the officer in a time of need." McIntyre said as she worked to stabilize the officer's condition, people were there to help.

"There was always a set of hands when I needed it," she said.

McIntyre stayed by his side even during the life flight to the hospital. She said the officer was conscious and talking to her when he was taken to the hospital.

"After the worst happened, the best followed," Sacramento Fire Chief Walt White said about McIntyre's quick response and the community's willingness to help the CHP officer.